Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this motion. I realize that it is a very passionate particular issue in the community of Aklavik. Mr. Speaker, one of the issues that has been drawn out of this particular case that removing them from the community doesn’t take into consideration is the social impact the community will have as well as those people in care, the detriment offer to them losing their close ties to their community that many of them were born in, had lived their whole lives. Many of them hoped to sort of spend their final days in that particular community.

Mr. Speaker, when we talk about impacts of the community, we have to discuss, or at least not forget, the impact of loss of jobs and how difficult it is to find jobs in communities like this. Quite often we talk about trying to ensure that we get jobs out of the regions, and even headquarters here in Yellowknife sometimes, where they make sense in small communities. The Joe Greenland Centre is a practical solution to sort of the mantra of what we are trying to serve here, which is taking care of our seniors and elders. If it is a quality programming issue, then we should be discussing that. If it is a matter of does the building suit the needs of today, does that building or situation suit the needs of tomorrow, and if the answer happens to be no, then we should be evaluating that and discussing that.

Mr. Speaker, 14 full-time and part-time people need to re-evaluate their life and those are the people that are offering support in this particular case to the Joe Greenland Centre. Has the Department of Health’s consideration taken into that effect? What are we doing to those particular people and that impact created?

Mr. Speaker, again, many times we talk about how important elders are and trying to keep them in their homes and in the communities, and the fact is sending to regional centres is, I think, a step backwards. Mr. Speaker, one of the challenges we live here constantly day in and day out at the Assembly is about trying to find ways to roll out services to communities, again, where it makes sense. Mr. Speaker, this seems as if it is a rolling up of services to that community. I think the community would perceive this strictly as a slap in the face about the type of services and care they are trying to provide their community members. The Joe Greenland Centre may not be the most idyllic situation, but yet it is a true one that has compassion to the people that are there and the community feels strongly about having them there.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, as I have sort of highlighted about the social component but about the spiritual wellness of these individuals as well as the community, uprooting your elders and sending them off somewhere is a wrong message. It is not a positive commitment that we have all made here in one form or another, that we will cherish and respect the generation before us. I think that sends a message that we are not trying hard enough.

Mr. Speaker, as I have said earlier, I will be supporting this motion, not just supporting Mr. Krutko but supporting the community of Aklavik as they strive forward to keep that commitment there. Thank you.